Discount supermarket chain Aldi has announced expansion plans that will see the creation of 35k jobs over the next eight years.

The company plans to invest more than £600m in a UK expansion, open more than 550 new stores and more than double its employee numbers.

The plans include the creation of at least one apprenticeship position per store per year.

Apprentice training and development will be supported by a new apprenticeship academy location at the company’s offices and distribution centre in Bolton, which is due to open in March.

The new jobs will include a range of management roles, both in-store and within Aldi’s offices, as well as in-store and regional distribution centre roles.